Sources: Some issues between Harden and Howard (don't hang out anymore)

I think in general relationships go through hot and cold periods. It doesn't have to be any kind of big deal. I didn't know they were hanging out a lot to begin with.

They've both been huge for us these playoffs. I understand that there are games where Howard seems to be the only one who brings the effort necessary to win. I can see Dwight having the perspective that maybe he wants it more than the other players on the team. I may not agree with that, but I could understand if Dwight felt that way. I could also see if he did feel that way, that other players might get defensive or rubbed the wrong way.

But that is far different than people hating each other and not being able to co-exist. Winning or an off-season followed by winning next season could erase any of these little issues.

 

It tells me that year Noah was a consistently damn good player.

Just like finishing 2nd and 5th tells me Harden has been consistently great for 2 straight seasons now.

Again looking at the 2 best and 2 worst games doesn't tell you a whole lot of anything. Look at the entirety of the postseason and what you see is very, very good play. You can't put up the numbers he has without the 10 very good games that surround the great and bad games.

 

Glad I'm not the only one annoyed by Dwight laughing and joking around when we were getting blown out.

 

I just skimmed through the 2nd half. There's only one clip of him smirking and it's in connection to the referees. He was complaining and then sat down between Smith and Capela and made a comment to the latter. This "Howard's laughing when getting blown out" is a bogus narrative created by Lakers fans. He was standing on the bench and cheering the team on, including Harden.

 

Whenever a team loses, rifts tend to develop or get reported. There are, for example, reports of rifts between DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul after the Clippers' epic choke job elimination vs. the Rockets. Similarly, it would not be surprising that the Rockets players are frustrated at each other after losing 3 straight, with the 3rd loss being a blowout at home. Look, even fans are frustrated at the players after some of these games and we don't even play in the games.

The question is whether this is just garden variety frustration or something that cannot be repaired.

 

the timing sucks but I think the way Harden played through the semi against the clippers upset dwight. Harden put up good numbers but wasnt the same sort of aggressive harden we saw in the first two games of this series. I am sure harden was pissed that dwight didnt come back sooner and the minutes restrictions early on.

I do say its kind of weird how little they run pick and rolls of late its easily the most devastating play the rockets have. I am hoping that they can put aside all this and so something special for the franchise. coming down 0-3 has happened before but not in the NBA - so why not now? But those two need to be on the same page for that to happen

 

I thought we all knew they didn't hang out... they never really did. They don't need to

 

In the 3rd there was a shot where Dwight was on the bench talking with a huge smile on his face to someone.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't CyberX saying that HARDEN is upset, not Dwight? It is humorous how people's preconceptions are coloring their replies to this thread.

 

Post it or drop the narrative. The only shot similar to that, which I already described, is not a huge smile. It happens at about the 3:30 minute mark in the 3rd and it was in response to a foul called on our team. He wasn't joking around throughout the game, just jabbing at the officials.

Someone said it so it must be true.

 

I dont have a shot but you can search through the Game 3 thread and some posters commented about him always smiling when it happened

 

Also while I dont know the extent of the injuries Dwight has suffered this year - if the team thinking Dwight is soft I find that to be strange considering he played through a sprained knee and played well. He also probably has been the most consistent player on the team during the playoffs. Maybe they felt he could have gutted it out and played in a few more games in the regular season but I thought it was the team doctors who put the restrictions on him.

 

I mentioned how Harden was upset too in there - I am just saying his play during the clippers series probably gave Dwight some "firepower" back

 

Have you been watching the playoff? Maybe in the regular season he may "impose his will" but in playoff he has done ****. The problem with harden is that he can't handle the pressure. Its like the pressure is paralyzing to him to point where it cripple his movement. Look at Game 1 and 2, he played great but when the pressure is on for Game 3 he folds. This will always be. That's why we need a third star because Dwight is not a reliable offense weapon. I am sure Dwight will be happy to have a third star on the team, but will Harden?

 

As usual thanks for the info cyber. We've seen it. Codman has mentioned JT and Ariza trying to hold it together.

 

Nothing reputable. Just troll posters feeding off one another. So there's no evidence, only gossip? Cool.

 

What are you talking about? Objectively speaking, Harden's playoff numbers are nearly IDENTICAL to his regular season averages. Maybe he played badly last game, but to say he has done nothing in the playoffs is absurd.

James Harden 2015 Playoff Averages:

.437 FG%
.366 3P%
.928 FT%

26.9 PTS
5.5 REB
7.9 AST
1.5 STL
4.1 TO

James Harden 2014-2015 Regular Season Averages:

.440 FG%
.375 3P%
.868 FT%

27.4 PTS
5.7 REB
7.0 AST
1.9 STL
4.0 TO

 

Meh, I'm not that worried. I just think the team is frustrated with how this series has gone. To be so close in the first two games, then get steamrolled in the game 3 would frustrate any team. And I'm sure the 0-7 mark against the Warriors adds further to the frustration.

IIRC, we heard some rumors that Harden and Howard had some issues after the Portland series last year. It sure seem like that didn't carry over to this season. I just think when the season is over, cooler heads will prevail.

 

True, but the pressure is still paralyzing him to point where it cripples his movement.

Now show me some fancy stats that can dispute...

 

3:45 of the third after the foul on Klay in the paint. Dwight is jack jawing after the foul is called.

A whole lotta nuth'n.

Right before this he had jumped off the bench in what I perceive was probably a protest to the baseline official because Draymond was posting up Terrence and dislodging him. Dwight pointed to Draymond and hollered something. That happened simultaneously to the Thompson drive. After the foul, he sat down and was jack jawing, probably talking to Dorsey or Bev about the previous non-call on Draymond.

As good ole JVG would say, A whole lotta nuth'n!